About the Green Man Festival

Greenbelt's Fourth Green Man Festival is a celebration of Greenbelt's commitment to preserve its acres of forests and to honor this green Earth by choosing wisely and acting locally.

Festival activities will reconnect us to the folklore of ancient civilizations through science, art, music and myth by featuring many local artists, musicians and performers from Greenbelt, as well as others from as far away as Ireland.

Who Is The Green Man?

He came to life in many cultures from the shadowy, forested world of early man. He made his way through the ages in folklore, songs, stone carvings in cathedrals and art in humble cottages. The Green Man is known to many as the Spirit of the Natural World, but takes on many different roles.

This festival brings the Green Man into the present where he returns to remind us that while concern for our environment is important, it's only a beginning until followed with personal action. You will be able to speak with others who share your values, contribute some ideas, listen to the music, and learn what others are doing to help locally restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and globally, our Mother Earth.

Cultural and Historical Links for Green Man / Nature Spirits

Wikipedia Definition of Greenman -   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man

Canterbury Green Man -   http://www.canterburygreenman.fsnet.co.uk/

The Green Man East Anglia -   http://website.lineone.net/~dominicow/

The Mystery of the Green Man -   http://www.mikeharding.co.uk/greenman/greenindex.html

Re-Earthing Cities -   http://www.users.on.net/~arachne/

Latvia -   http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/jumis.html

Greek -   http://www.pantheon.org/areas/gallery/mythology/europe/greek/dionysus2.html

Islamic Tradition -   http://khidr.org/index.htm